Chapter 1: The Descent of National Fortune, a "Bad Luck" for the Dragon Kingdom?

Blue Star, Dragon Kingdom, Jiangcheng City.

A suffocating heat enveloped the crowded steel jungle.

Even though it was already 11 p.m., the huge air purification tower in the distance could still be heard rumbling under its own weight from the narrow window of the rented room.

Su Che sat in front of the computer, tugging at his collar in frustration.

The time in the bottom right corner of the screen jumped once, and at the same time, the dim energy-saving light on the roof flickered twice.

"Damn it, my quota for today is gone again."

Su Che picked up the tube labeled "Synthetic Protein Paste" from the table, squeezed out the last bit of toothpaste-like paste, and put it in his mouth. It tasted like chewing wax, with an indescribable industrial saccharin flavor.

But he had no choice.

This is already the year 5026 AD.

With the extreme depletion of Earth's resources, oil, natural gas, and even clean water have become luxuries. Friction between major powers over these last resources has never ceased, and the lives of ordinary people have long been pushed to the brink of survival.

"At this rate of consumption, even this synthetic feed will have to be rationed next month."

Su Che's eyes were calm, unlike most people who became hysterical in this desperate era.

Just as he was about to shut down his computer and go to bed before the power went out—

A mechanical voice, seemingly from a higher dimension, exploded in the minds of every human on Earth without warning!

[Warning! Warning! Earth's resources are dwindling, and the spark of civilization is in grave danger!]

[The Forbidden Zone of National Fate Game is about to begin!]

[Two contestants will be randomly selected from each of 197 countries worldwide, bound to their nation's destiny, to enter a forbidden realm in another world for a survival challenge!]

The game rules are as follows:

[1. Resources obtained by players within the forbidden area will be multiplied a hundredfold in their real-world country!]

[2. If a player dies, the lifespan of all citizens of their country will be reduced by three years, resource reserves will be halved, and monsters from forbidden areas will appear in that country at a rate ten thousand times greater!]

3. This is a real world; there are no do-overs, no save files.

[Ten minutes to go! Good luck!]

boom--!

The moment the sound ended, the once lifeless blue planet erupted in a frenzy.

Whether it's an overworked office worker, an elderly person lying in bed, or a young person wandering the streets, a blood-red countdown number appears on everyone's retinas:

09: 59.

Immediately afterwards, countless enormous holographic screens appeared out of thin air above cities around the world, and major online live streaming platforms were instantly taken over by a mysterious force, turning into a "national destiny live streaming room" with hundreds of sub-channels.

Dragon Kingdom, a superpower with a population of 1.4 billion, saw its exclusive live stream attract over 1 billion viewers in just a few seconds!

The barrage of comments exploded like an avalanche:

"Holy crap! It's really here? A game about national destiny? I've read those kinds of web novels!"

"A hundredfold manifestation? If we find a forest, wouldn't we no longer have to breathe in exhaust fumes?"

"If it's true, this is our only chance to turn things around! God help us, please draw a powerful player!"

"Please, please, draw a top-tier soldier! Or a special forces soldier! Or even a martial arts champion!"

"Don't draw an old, weak, sick, or disabled person! If we draw that old man next door who's always out of breath, our Dragon Kingdom is doomed!"

At a time when the nation's life and death are at stake, no one can remain calm.

Everyone stared intently at the screen, praying for Lady Luck's favor.

Ten minutes felt exceptionally long in this suffocating atmosphere.

Finally, the countdown reached zero.

[Draw complete! The list of participants from each country has been confirmed!]

[The teleportation portal is about to open!]

At the same time, the main screen of the live broadcast room was divided into countless screens, and information about the contestants from various countries began to appear one after another.

The first country to cause a global sensation was the United States, located across the ocean.

In the footage from the United States, a middle-aged white man with a burly, bear-like build, wearing a camouflage tactical vest and bulging muscles, is roaring at the camera. He is even holding a tactical knife for self-defense in his hand.

[American Contestant 1: John Smith (Former retired Navy SEAL instructor, now a private security consultant, proficient in wilderness survival and combat)]

[National Competitor 2: Emily (Extreme Sports Expert, Rock Climbing Champion)]

At that moment, the live stream from the United States was instantly flooded with celebratory comments:

"Ohhhh! God bless America! It's Instructor John!"

"That's real skill! Look at those muscles, he could kill a bull with one punch, right?"

"We've got it! This time we're guaranteed to win! All the resources are ours!"

"Hahaha, let the weaklings of other countries die!"

Following that, the Russian bear country in the north also revealed their trump card.

[Russian fighter: Ivanov (Siberian underground boxing champion, who has fought brown bears bare-handed)]

Seeing these ridiculously powerful configurations, the audience in China was on tenterhooks.

"Oh no, this configuration is practically from a wholesale supplier!"

"Look at our Dragon Kingdom! We absolutely cannot lose!"

"God, please give me a special forces soldier! I beg you!"

Under the anxious gaze of 1.4 billion people, the screen of the Dragon Kingdom finally lit up.

However, upon seeing the two photos and their descriptions, the entire Dragon Kingdom livestream room fell into a deathly silence.

What followed was an even more frantic despair and wailing.

[Dragon Country Contestant 1: Lin Qingge (21 years old, postgraduate student at Jinghua University, national-level campus beauty)]

On the screen was a breathtakingly beautiful face. With cool, clear eyes and exquisite features, she truly deserved the title of "National School Beauty." If this were a beauty pageant, China would definitely win first place, but now… this was a life-or-death situation!

"School beauty? Lin Qingge? I admit she's pretty and a top student, but what could a pampered young lady like her do in a forbidden area? Perform for monsters?"

"Oh no, with those skinny arms and legs, they probably won't even be able to walk!"

"Don't rush, don't rush! There's one more! Maybe the other one is a hidden bodyguard of a top-tier soldier?"

All of their hopes were pinned on the second person.

However, reality dealt a heavy blow to the people of China.

[Dragon Country Contestant 2: Su Che (21 years old, third-year student at Jiangcheng University, no special experience, physical test score: qualified)]

The photo shows a handsome but noticeably thin young man with a languid look in his eyes, the kind of look that comes from years of staying indoors. His resume is unremarkable; he has no military experience, no combat background, and is just an ordinary college student who would blend into a crowd.

Even his physical fitness test score was barely "passable".

At that moment, it felt as if the sky of the Dragon Kingdom had collapsed.

"Am I seeing things? A pretty but talentless college girl and an ordinary, nerdy college student?"

"How the hell do you play this?! How the hell do you play this?!"

"This is a death knell for our Dragon Kingdom! Look at the special forces of the beacon of the world, and look at us... one is responsible for screaming for help, and the other for sending themselves to their deaths?"

"I can't bear to watch anymore, I can already picture their gruesome fate of being eliminated as soon as they land..."

"Even a butcher would be better than this! What can a college student do? Use calculus to reform a monster?"

Despair spread like a plague.